History Series / Charmed

* BathtubMermaid: The second half of the season 5 premiere had Piper and Paige hide Phoebe (who turned into a mermaid) in their bathtub because Phoebe has a television interview, and they didn't want to risk exposing her as a mermaid.

** Prue's character in Season 1 is extremely at odds with Seasons 2 and 3. She's portrayed as an uptight stick in the mud who is very humorless. Come Season 2 and she becomes much quippier and NotSoAboveItAll. Part of it is down to her loosening up as her bond with her sisters grows but some of the superwitch tendencies are quite jarring.

* ContinuityNod: Sometimes when they're flipping through the Book of Shadows you may notice pages that came from earlier episodes or even seasons. It gets a little more obvious that each page added for an episode never got taken out, because the book seems to get noticeably thicker by the end of the series. This works though, because the Sisters had by the later seasons started adding their own stuff to it. When Paige goes back to 1967 in "Witchstock", the book is appropriately much thinner.

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* ContinuityNod: ContinuityNod:** Sometimes when they're flipping through the Book of Shadows you may notice pages that came from earlier episodes or even seasons. It gets a little more obvious that each page added for an episode never got taken out, because the book seems to get noticeably thicker by the end of the series. This works though, because the Sisters had by the later seasons started adding their own stuff to it. When Paige goes back to 1967 in "Witchstock", the book is appropriately much thinner.thinner.** A minor gag in Season 1's "Love Hurts" has Prue teasing Phoebe for being nicknamed 'Freebie' in high school for making out with a boy under the bleachers. When she goes to her high school reunion in Season 6, we meet the guy in question.

* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Paige, from Prue. This and Cole's storyline saved the show through one of its [[JumpTheShark disputed shark jumps]].* DoesNotLikeMen: Grams repeatedly demonstrates this, [[FreudianExcuse supposedly]] because her four failed marriages have left her a little bitter towards men.

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* DivergentCharacterEvolution: Paige, DivergentCharacterEvolution: ** When Piper became the lead witch, her desire for a normal life helped differentiate her from Prue. This Prue when she was the main character. ** Paige likewise was differentiated from Prue by being treated like an outsider by Piper and Cole's storyline saved the show through one of its [[JumpTheShark disputed shark jumps]].struggling to live up to Prue's reputation.* DoesNotLikeMen: Grams repeatedly demonstrates this, [[FreudianExcuse supposedly]] because her four failed marriages have left her a little bitter towards men. Season 6 reveals that her first marriage was TheLostLenore - as he was killed by a warlock friend of hers.

* DoorClosesEnding: This is the idiosyncratic way of ending ''every'' season. See the OnceASeason entry below.

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* DoorClosesEnding: This is the idiosyncratic way of ending ''every'' season. See the OnceASeason entry below. The first episode ends this way too.* DoubleStandardAbuseFemaleOnMale:** Prue would frequently use her telekinesis to cause slapstick injuries to Andy or other men who annoyed her. ** Subverted in the Season 4 premiere, where a suspected abusive father turns out to be covering for his wife.** Deconstructed in Season 8 where Billie - believing women are the superior sex - accidentally causes all the girls in her class to beat up the boys. She's horrified by what she's done and it's presented as wrong.

* DrivenToSuicide: Cole had attempted to get the Charmed Ones angry enough at him to want to vanquish him. However, he had become [[NighInvulnerability invincible]] by then, and was so powerful that [[ICannotSelfTerminate he couldn't even use his many powers to kill himself]].

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* DrivenToSuicide: DrivenToSuicide: ** Cole had attempted to get the Charmed Ones angry enough at him to want to vanquish him. However, he had become [[NighInvulnerability invincible]] by then, and was so powerful that [[ICannotSelfTerminate he couldn't even use his many powers to kill himself]].

* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: Anyone who is against the sisters are declared evil. Except on the occasion where they're just misguided. That said occasionally has the one of the sisters do something stupid or evil and get called for it. The show has a general problem with moral issues, often ripe with Unfortunate Implications. The morality is sometimes exclusively protagonist-centered, sometimes [[JerkassGods Elder]]-centered, and sometimes even single-sister-centered. Examples include the Elders forcing Piper through all levels of emotional anguish, suffering and self-sacrifice, Phoebe's infamous glamouring of her boyfriend, and numerous situations between the sisters when an apology that should have gone both ways only went one way.** Consider that the Charmed Ones are meant to be one of the most powerful forces of good in existence.** Which for some reason is enough to excuse, for example, setting up a bank robber Phoebe once knew to get killed by demons.** In Series 7, the sisters are completely fine with [[spoiler: Leo getting DrunkOnTheDarkSide and brutally murdering an Elder, even covering up for him afterwards]], but how ''dare'' the Elders treat them and Leo with mistrust and suspicion because of it?! Of course [[spoiler:said Elder was trying to ''kill'' Wyatt and was the one ultimately responsible for turning him evil, making the murder completely justified, and the sisters had past experience of the Elders being...less than willing to listen to reason]], but this doesn't completely justify acting as if the Elders would have no reason for mistrust.

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* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: ProtagonistCenteredMorality:** Anyone who is against the sisters are declared evil. Except on the occasion where they're just misguided. That said occasionally has the one of the sisters do something stupid or evil and get called for it. The show has a general problem with moral issues, often ripe with Unfortunate Implications. The morality is sometimes exclusively protagonist-centered, sometimes [[JerkassGods Elder]]-centered, and sometimes even single-sister-centered. Examples include the Elders forcing Piper through all levels of emotional anguish, suffering and self-sacrifice, Phoebe's infamous glamouring of her boyfriend, and numerous situations between the sisters when an apology that should have gone both ways only went one way.** Consider that the Charmed Ones are meant to be one of the most powerful forces of good in existence.** Which for some reason is enough to excuse, for example, setting up a bank robber In early seasons, Phoebe once knew to get killed by demons.** In Series 7, would do things that got criticised when Prue would do the same and be portrayed as in the right. Phoebe would frequently be scolded for using her powers for personal gain, whereas whenever Prue did the narrative would justify it. Prue would frequently be put on the moral high ground despite being just as bad as her sisters are completely fine with [[spoiler: Leo getting DrunkOnTheDarkSide - and brutally murdering an Elder, sometimes even covering up for him afterwards]], but how ''dare'' the Elders treat them and Leo with mistrust and suspicion because of it?! Of course [[spoiler:said Elder was trying to ''kill'' Wyatt and was the one ultimately responsible for turning him evil, making the murder completely justified, and the sisters had past experience of the Elders being...less than willing to listen to reason]], but this doesn't completely justify acting as if the Elders would have no reason for mistrust. worse.

The series successfully returned in comic book form in 2010 thanks to company Zenescope, receiving mixed to positive reviews from fans and critics alike. As with anything 90s and successful, there have been talks of a reboot since 2013.

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The series successfully returned in comic book form in 2010 thanks to company Zenescope, receiving mixed to positive reviews from fans and critics alike. As with anything 90s and successful, there have been talks of a reboot since 2013.2013. In 2017, it was announced that Creator/TheCW will be airing the new reboot, and a year later, a pilot order was given and the remake is set to take place in the present day.

''Charmed'' is a show that ran from 1998-2006, wherein three UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco-based [[{{Action Girl}} girl-power]] witch sisters vanquish demons through the triple powers of CGI, rhymes, and lots of cleavage, whilst dealing with personal relationship drama.

''Charmed'' can be divided into two sets of seasons. Seasons 1-3 are the 'Prue Years' featuring Creator/ShannenDoherty as the eldest Halliwell sister Prue. Doherty left the show after that season and Creator/RoseMcGowan was cast as sister Paige for seasons 4-8.

It was moderately successful, with a cast of beautiful women and hunky guys. It experienced a SeriesFauxnale in the seventh season, only to be brought back for an eighth season and a series finale that many fans believed was one of the best episodes of the series, despite the general dislike for season eight overall (mainly due to the introduction of Billie, a supposed-to-be replacement witch for the sisters).

The series successfully returned in comic book form in 2010 thanks to company Zenescope, receiving mixed to positive reviews from fans and critics alike. There are talks as of 2013 for a rebooted series on CBS, which hasn't sat well with stars Alyssa Milano and Rose [=McGowan=].

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''Charmed'' is a show that ran from 1998-2006, wherein three UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco-based [[{{Action Girl}} girl-power]] witch sisters vanquish demons through the triple powers of CGI, rhymes, and lots of cleavage, whilst dealing with personal relationship drama.

drama. The show was created by Constance M Burge, inspired by the cult 90s film ''Film/TheCraft''. Having trouble getting networks to pick up the witchcraft concept, she made the characters sisters and the show was greenlit.

''Charmed'' can be divided into two sets of seasons. Seasons 1-3 are the 'Prue Years' featuring Creator/ShannenDoherty as the eldest Halliwell sister Prue. Doherty left the show after that season and Creator/RoseMcGowan was cast as sister Paige for seasons 4-8. The other two sisters were played by FormerChildStar Creator/AlyssaMilano (who helped carve out a successful career as an adult actress thanks to ''Charmed'') and ''Series/PicketFences'' actress Creator/HollyMarieCombs. Other cast members included a pre-''Series/NipTuck'' Julian [=McMahon=] and a pre-''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' Creator/KaleyCuoco.

It A pretty successful show, ''Charmed'' ran for eight seasons and for a while was moderately successful, the longest running network TV show with a cast of beautiful women female leads - until ''Series/DesperateHousewives'' surpassed it. The show is also known for its quite surprising tonal shifts between seasons - compare Season 2's slow-paced SliceOfLife plots to Season 3's action-packed arc-based story telling - the sisters' clothing getting HotterAndSexier with each year and hunky guys. It experienced quite a SeriesFauxnale in the seventh season, only few continuity issues - just how many times was Penny Halliwell married anyway?[[note]]The final answer seems to be brought back for an eighth season four, but one episode said six, and a series finale that many fans believed was one of the best episodes of the series, despite the general dislike for season eight overall (mainly due it later got clarified to the introduction of Billie, a supposed-to-be replacement witch for the sisters).

four marriages and six engagements.[[/note]]

The series successfully returned in comic book form in 2010 thanks to company Zenescope, receiving mixed to positive reviews from fans and critics alike. There are As with anything 90s and successful, there have been talks as of 2013 for a rebooted series on CBS, which hasn't sat well with stars Alyssa Milano and Rose [=McGowan=].reboot since 2013.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: The sisters have a bad habit of scoffing at anything they haven't encountered. And it seems to get worse ''every'' season.** Subverted in "Once Upon a Time". Piper expresses disbelief over fairies and trolls, but her skepticism turns out to be based on her frustration with the Elders taking Leo away.

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* ArbitrarySkepticism: The sisters have a bad habit of scoffing at anything they haven't encountered. And it seems to get worse ''every'' season.** Subverted in "Once Upon a Time". Piper expresses disbelief over fairies and trolls, but her skepticism turns out to be based on her frustration with the Elders taking Leo away.

* AstralProjection: This becomes Prue's second power. It never fully develops [[spoiler: before her death]], so her original body seems to go unconscious, and her main power of [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]] is useless, as her astral clone can't use it and her original body is disabled. Miss Donovan in season seven learns to project a physical astral body in a similar manner.

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* AstralProjection: AstralProjection: ** This becomes Prue's second power. It never fully develops [[spoiler: before her death]], so her original body seems to go unconscious, and her main power of [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]] is useless, as her astral clone can't use it and her original body is disabled. Miss Donovan in season seven learns to project a physical astral body in a similar manner.

* DeathTakesAHoliday** And he recruits Piper to do his job for a while.** The punny episode title of "Death Takes a Halliwell".* DecadeThemedParty: One episode had a [[TheThirties 1930s]] Night being held at P3.

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* DeathTakesAHoliday** DeathTakesAHoliday: And he recruits Piper to do his job for a while.** while. The punny episode title of "Death Takes a Halliwell".Halliwell" comes from the trope namer but does not feature this.* DecadeThemedParty: One episode had a [[TheThirties 1930s]] 1940s Night being held at P3.P3. The lady wanted the 50s but the sisters convinced her that it was overdone.

%% * ImprobableAgeImprobableAge:** Despite being in her twenties, Prue is already in a prominent position at Bucklands' auction house after several years being a successful museum curator. There is a small justification since Rex and Hannah hired her and they're after her magic. After they're vanquished, Prue is in constant clashes with the senior members of the auction house.** Piper sets up and is able to run a night club in her mid-20s too, despite her background being as a chef and bank teller.** Phoebe and Paige are aversions; Phoebe is in college in the first three seasons and gets a job on a fluke in the fourth - and she still goes back to college to get extra understanding for her new career. Paige meanwhile is an intern who's still paying student loans back and when she gets promoted to social worker, she has to leave the job because she can't handle it.** Billie can only be twenty at the oldest, and has already mastered her powers and developed a scrying system by hooking crystals up to her computer. All from reading a few books. This is lampshaded by Piper, who suspects that Billie may have got help from demons at first. It gets a hand wave later when Billie's mother reveals that her family line is of witches and she was just a MuggleBornOfMages.

* InformedAbility: Phoebe gets hired long-term to write the relationship advice column at a newspaper after a stint at ghostwriting it earlier because everybody thought she was so great at it, and gushing over her column continues afterwards. The examples that are shown of her advice is actually quite trite. She also guest hosts a talkshow once, and again people are saying she was amazing, while her shown behaviour in the studio was shockingly amateurish.* InformedAttractiveness: People on the show talked about Phoebe as if she were the most gorgeous creature to ever walk the Earth. While Alyssa Milano was certainly beautiful, she wasn't significantly more attractive than Rose [=McGowan=] or Holly Marie Combs. Their characters weren't praised for their looks nearly as much as Phoebe was (although she did have a tendancy to show more skin than the others did, especially later on). Before that Prue got quite a lot if it as well. She had nearly as many one shot love interests as Phoebe (and she was only in '''three seasons''').

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* InformedAbility: Phoebe gets hired long-term to write the relationship advice column at a newspaper after a stint at ghostwriting it earlier because everybody thought she was so great at it, and gushing over her column continues afterwards. The examples that are shown of her advice is actually quite trite. She also guest hosts a talkshow talk show once, and again people are saying she was amazing, while her shown behaviour in the studio was shockingly amateurish.* InformedAttractiveness: People on the show talked about Phoebe as if she were the most gorgeous creature to ever walk the Earth. While Alyssa Milano was certainly beautiful, she wasn't significantly more attractive than Rose [=McGowan=] or Holly Marie Combs. Their characters weren't praised for their looks nearly as much as Phoebe was (although she did have a tendancy tendency to show more skin than the others did, especially later on). Before that Prue got quite a lot if it as well. She had nearly as many one shot love interests as Phoebe (and she was only in '''three seasons''').

* JerkassHasAPoint / StrawmanHasAPoint: In "Crimes and Witch Demeanours", Barbas argues his case that the Charmed Ones should he stripped of their powers, due to their recklessness and selfish abuse of their abilities, nearly breaking the masquerade on a regular basis and putting innocents into situations where they've gotten killed. Turns out, the Tribunal actually ''agree'' with most of his argument and decide to strip Phoebe's active powers, due to her being the worse repeat-offender.

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* JerkassHasAPoint / StrawmanHasAPoint: JerkassHasAPoint: In "Crimes and Witch Demeanours", Barbas argues his case that the Charmed Ones should he stripped of their powers, due to their recklessness and selfish abuse of their abilities, nearly breaking the masquerade on a regular basis and putting innocents into situations where they've gotten killed. Turns out, the Tribunal actually ''agree'' with most of his argument and decide to strip Phoebe's active powers, due to her being the worse repeat-offender.

* LostAesop: In "Witch from the Past" Phoebe ostensibly must learn that she can't fight the Angel of Death (which represents "normal" death - natural causes, accidents etc.) However, the end result is that Piper has to go back in time, convince ''herself'' to just lie to Phoebe when the crucial time comes, and thus take the decision out of Phoebe's hands. In the end Phoebe doesn't even know what was going to happen, the lesson being annulled with the storyline.

* OneSteveLimit: There's an innocent called Billy in season 1, Billy Appleby is the hero of Phoebe's favourite movie and Billie Jenkins is a cast member in Season 8.

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* OneSteveLimit: OneSteveLimit: ** Invoked by a villain in Season 1. He poses as the head of Bucklands auction house, and takes on the identity of a man who has Buckland as his last name.** There's an innocent called Billy in season 1, Billy Appleby is the hero of Phoebe's favourite movie and Billie Jenkins is a cast member in Season 8.

* TokenWholesome: Compared to her other sisters (and that includes Prue too) Piper was rarely used for {{Fanservice}}. The only times she really got in on the SexyWhateverOutfit theme was whenever all three sisters did (Valkyries, Goddesses etc). She only had one blatant Fanservice episode ("Coyote Piper") in contrast to the other three. Her clothing was always more modest too.

* TookALevelInJerkass: As Alyssa Milano got more creative control, Phoebe went from a likeable, well-meaning [[TheDitz ditz]] to a self-obsessed, selfish JerkSue who seemed to be more interested in looking for sperm banks and boy toys than helping anyone find true love, much less herself. Piper, meanwhile, started caring more about her own desire for a normal life than either hers or Leo's magical duties to saving other people. Paige, at least for a time, was more than willing to kill or at least ''get'' someone killed to solve a problem even when it was completely unnecessary to do so. The three in general grew a habit of thanklessly enlisting longtime friend Darryl Morris for help and pulling him into magical situations when he's already had a hard enough time covering for them over the years. There's being changed and hardened by going through hell over a period of several years, then there's the show seemingly forgetting over time that the Charmed Ones are supposed to be ''{{the hero}}es''.

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* TookALevelInJerkass: As Alyssa Milano got TookALevelInBadass: ** Piper began as the meek middle sister with a defensive power, unsure of her position in their destiny. After Prue's death, Piper had to assume the lead witch role and become the eldest sister. She also gained a more creative control, offensive power, with the result that she could be a OneWomanArmy depending on the episode.** Phoebe went from a likeable, well-meaning [[TheDitz ditz]] to a self-obsessed, selfish JerkSue who seemed to be more interested likewise just had premonitions in looking for sperm banks and boy toys than helping anyone find true love, much less herself. Piper, meanwhile, the first season. But she started caring training in martial arts, gained a levitation power and was much more about effective in combat. ** In the season 2 episode with the BadFuture, the sisters get a taste of what their powers will be like in ten years. Prue destroys the attic with a casual wave of her hand, Piper freezes everyone on a crowded street and Phoebe can generate electricity.* TookALevelInJerkass:** Phoebe became significantly nastier in Season 5, blaming Cole for all that had gone wrong in her life and refusing to accept responsibility for her own desire for a normal life than either hers or Leo's magical duties to saving other people. Paige, at least for a time, was more than willing to kill or at least ''get'' someone killed to solve a problem even when it was completely unnecessary to do so. The three actions. She also began misusing her powers, resulting in general grew a habit of thanklessly enlisting longtime friend Darryl Morris for help and pulling him into magical situations when he's already had a hard enough time covering for them over the years. There's being changed and hardened by going through hell over a period of several years, then there's the show seemingly forgetting over time that the Charmed Ones are supposed to be ''{{the hero}}es''.Elders punishing her. She remained in this persona until Season 8, where she TookALevelInKindness.

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* TookALevelInKindness: Prue was very cold and aloof to most of the other characters in Season 1. Starting with "Out of Sight", she started to loosen up and become a lot more fun-loving.* TotallyRadical: In Season 4 Piper's attempts to have P3 revamped result in this.--> "It's five minutes away from being 'so five minutes ago'."

* SuperSargassoSea: In one episode, the sisters cast a spell to "[[ExactWords find lost things]]" -- and it backfires to the point that ''everything'' they ever lost came back, thus turning their house into this.

** Paige grew up as an only child, never knowing who her family was and not knowing her place in the world. Much of her arc concern her trying to find herself and coincidently she has the power to teleport from place to place

** Phoebe has blonde highlights when her relationship with Cole first begins. As it gets serious, the colour darkens. When they get engaged, her hairstyle changes and it gets darker. [[spoiler: While he is possessed by the Source]] her hair goes to shoulder length and then turns black [[spoiler: when she becomes his Queen]]. By season 5 when she has moved on from Cole, her fringe has grown longer. Her short hair in season 6 isn't an example (as Alyssa Milano simply wanted to cut it for her 30th birthday) but it does coincide with her gaining empath powers. By season 8 her hair has grown out long to reflect her desire to find love. Her future self [[spoiler: who is finally a mother]] is shown with waist-length hair.

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** Phoebe has blonde highlights when her relationship with Cole first begins. As it gets serious, the colour darkens. When they get engaged, her hairstyle changes and it gets darker. [[spoiler: While he is possessed corrupted by the Source]] Source's power]] her hair goes to shoulder length and then turns black [[spoiler: when she becomes his Queen]]. By season 5 when she has moved on from Cole, her fringe has grown longer. Her short hair in season 6 isn't an example (as Alyssa Milano simply wanted to cut it for her 30th birthday) but it does coincide with her gaining empath powers. By season 8 her hair has grown out long to reflect her desire to find love. Her future self [[spoiler: who is finally a mother]] is shown with waist-length hair.

* {{Gaslighting}}: Cole does it to Paige, along with having a demon possess her with a demonic power and a side effect is temporary insanity. He uses demon powers around her, and erases the evidence, so she can't be sure she's seen anything.

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* {{Gaslighting}}: Cole Source!Cole does it to Paige, along with having a demon possess her with a demonic power and with a side effect is of temporary insanity. He uses demon powers around her, and erases the evidence, so she can't be sure she's seen anything.

* {{Hypocrite}}s: The sisters, especially Phoebe, towards Cole. She and her sisters turn evil because of some magical factor or some manipulation of their powers, it's just a Halliwell thing. The love of her life turns evil because of some magical factor or some manipulation of his powers, she's contemplating his murder. Seen at least twice.** And then there's the thing about whether powers can be inherently good or evil or not. One second the sisters are reassuring a young boy whose power is basically being groomed to be used for the Source that powers have no inherent morality and it's just what you do with them. The next they're mistrusting Cole for his demonic half, and after his possession by the Source, which truly burned Cole more than anyone else, they're downright detesting and fearing Cole, to the point Phoebe pretty much desensitizes herself to him, for the simple fact of his having demonic powers. This only serves to expedite his SanitySlippage, to the point some fans see his character as little else but Phoebe's {{Yandere}} and some others decided in disgust that the show had [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]].*** In 'The Witch is Back' Melinda Warren explicitly states that the power of 'blinking' (basically teleportation) that the bad guy of the episode has, was stolen from another witch. Then, in 'Bride and Gloom', Piper claims that blinking is [[RetCon something only the evil guys do]]. Warlocks are outright stated to be known for stealing witches' powers, so if anything, there should be no such thing as evil powers at all, only good powers that were stolen.

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* {{Hypocrite}}s: {{Hypocrite}}s:** The sisters, especially Phoebe, towards Cole. Cole.*** She and her sisters turn evil because of some magical factor or some manipulation of their powers, it's just a Halliwell thing. The love of her life turns evil because of some magical factor or some manipulation of his powers, she's contemplating his murder. Seen at least twice.** *** You know how Prue was quick to speculate that Cole was playing Phoebe into a trap after finding out he was Belthazor and never really trusted him since? [[IdiotBall Turns out she was the one who felt Phoebe and Cole's love for each other and convinced Phoebe to get with him about a month earlier]] [[BlessedWithSuck while she was cursed with]] [[MySkullRunnethOver a massive dose of]] [[TheEmpath empathy]].*** In "Wrestling with Demons", Prue finds out Cole is still alive. She constantly criticizes Phoebe for lying to her and for supposedly risking them all, as well as refuses to listen that the half-human demon could have any good in him. However, in the earlier "When Bad Warlocks Go Good," Prue risked everything to help a half-human Warlock because she sensed good in him. Not to mention how this is the episode where Prue is actively trying to save an '''ex'''-boyfriend (who [[OneShotCharacter never appears in the series again]]) from a [[DealWithTheDevil contract with a demonic trainer]] while he's only one kill away from becoming a full demon. Unlike the other examples here, Prue is called on this hypocrisy by Phoebe (obviously well-before her own hypocrisy became evident), and the final scene of the same episode hints that Prue was more angry by Phoebe's lying about vanquishing Cole than the non-vanquish itself, so she still has a leg to stand on.*** Throughout Season 5, the sisters blamed Cole for becoming the Source. This despite the fact that he was corrupted by a power he couldn't handle, in the process of saving their lives from the previous Source, was fighting to regain himself the entire time, suffered more than anyone else and ultimately died from the entire ordeal, and would have given up the Source's powers if Phoebe hadn't vanquished the wizard who was going to receive the Source's powers, all specifically to force Cole into staying the Source. Predictably, Phoebe never bothered to acknowledge that she was the one who forced Cole to stay the Source.*** In the second episode of Season 5, Cole decided to pack up and leave after Phoebe rejected him. However, Paige would browbeat him into staying to help save Phoebe by casting a spell that forced him to feel Phoebe's love for him, which ended up convincing him to stay for good. In both Seasons 4 and 5, Paige is even more vehemently against Cole than Prue ever was and repeatedly tries to vanquish him or help Phoebe vanquish him, despite that he was going to leave peacefully before she cast that spell.*** And then there's the thing about whether powers can be inherently good or evil or not. One second the sisters are reassuring a young boy whose power is basically being groomed to be used for the Source that powers have no inherent morality and it's just what you do with them. The next they're mistrusting Cole for his demonic half, and after his possession corruption by the Source, Source's power, which truly burned Cole more than anyone else, they're downright detesting and fearing Cole, to the point Phoebe pretty much desensitizes herself to him, for the simple fact of his having demonic powers. This only serves to expedite his SanitySlippage, to the point some fans see his character as little else but Phoebe's {{Yandere}} and some others decided in disgust that the show had [[JumpingTheShark jumped the shark]].*** Particularly egregious is in the beginning of "Centennial Charmed". On the eve of Cole's 118th birthday, he entered his penthouse, sadly looking into a mirror and telling himself happy birthday because there's no one else that's gonna tell it to him. Only to be paid a visit by ''Paige'' sneaking into his home from behind while invisible, jumping into his body, and trying to kill him. That scream of agony after he booted her out of his house did not come from nowhere. To make things worse, she ''practiced this on '''Leo''' first!'' And despite Leo reconstituting after being blown up and outright telling her it's not gonna work on Cole, ''she insisted she was right and did it anyway!'' Isn't Cole supposed to be the cartoon villain here?*** Of course, Leo became a hypocrite himself in season 8 when it turned out that he'd captured two Noxon demons who were made unvanquishable through Underworld science and had then imprisoned to be used for target practice by students in Magic School.** In 'The Witch is Back' Melinda Warren explicitly states that the power of 'blinking' (basically instant teleportation) that the bad guy of the episode has, was stolen from another witch. Then, in 'Bride and Gloom', Piper claims that blinking is [[RetCon something only the evil guys do]]. Warlocks are outright stated to be known for stealing witches' powers, so if anything, there should be no such thing as evil powers at all, only good just powers that were stolen.stolen or misappropriated for evil.

** You know how Prue was quick to speculate that Cole was playing Phoebe into a trap after finding out he was Belthazor and never really trusted him since? [[IdiotBall Turns out she was the one who felt Phoebe and Cole's love for each other and convinced Phoebe to get with him about a month earlier]] [[BlessedWithSuck while she was cursed with]] [[MySkullRunnethOver a massive dose of]] [[TheEmpath empathy]].** In "Wrestling with Demons," Prue finds out Cole is still alive. She constantly criticizes Phoebe for lying to her and for supposedly risking them all, as well as refuses to listen that the half-human demon could have any good in him. However, in the earlier "When Bad Warlocks Go Good," Prue risked everything to help a half-human Warlock because she sensed good in him. Not to mention how this is the episode where Prue is actively trying to save an '''ex'''-boyfriend (who [[OneShotCharacter never appears in the series again]]) from a [[DealWithTheDevil contract with a demonic trainer]] while he's only one kill away from becoming a full demon. Unlike the other examples here, Prue is called on this hypocrisy by Phoebe (obviously well-before her own hypocrisy became evident).*** Although it's later hinted in the final scene of the same episode that Prue was more angry by Phoebe's lying about vanquishing Cole than the non-vanquish itself.** Throughout Season 5, the sisters blamed Cole for becoming the Source. This despite the fact that he was possessed against his will, in the process of saving their lives from the previous Source, was fighting against the possession the entire time, suffered more than anyone else and ultimately died from the entire ordeal, and would have given up the Source's powers if Phoebe hadn't vanquished the wizard who was going to receive the Source's powers, all specifically to force Cole into staying the Source. Predictably, Phoebe never bothered to acknowledge that she was the one who forced Cole to stay the Source.** In the second episode of Season 5, Cole decided to pack up and leave after Phoebe rejected him. However, Paige browbeated him into staying to help save Phoebe by casting a spell that forced him to feel Phoebe's love for him, which ended up convincing him to stay for good. In both Seasons 4 and 5, Paige is even more vehemently against Cole than Prue ever was and repeatedly tries to vanquish him or help Phoebe vanquish him, despite that he was going to leave peacefully before she cast that spell.*** Particularly egregious is in the beginning of ''Centennial Charmed''. On the eve of Cole's 118th birthday, he entered his penthouse, sadly looking into a mirror and telling himself happy birthday because there's no one else that's gonna tell it to him. Only to be paid a visit by ''Paige'' sneaking into his home from behind while invisible, jumping into his body, and trying to kill him. That scream of agony after he booted her out of his house did not come from nowhere. To make things worse, she ''practiced this on '''Leo''' first!'' And despite Leo reconstituting after being blown up and outright telling her it's not gonna work on Cole, ''she insisted she was right and did it anyway!'' Isn't Cole supposed to be the cartoonishly evil one here?*** Of course, Leo became a hypocrite himself in season 8 when it turned out that he'd captured two Noxon demons who were made unvanquishable through Underworld science and had then imprisoned to be used for target practice by students in Magic School.

*** Additionally, remember the example from "Sam I Am." Phoebe condemned Cole for killing those two criminals in the bar, who threatened to rob it and then shot up the place. Phoebe certainly didn't think he was in the right. She went as far to threaten to vanquish Cole over that - which makes this ''later'' event more suspicious.

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*** Additionally, remember the example from "Sam I Am." Am". Phoebe condemned Cole for killing those two criminals in the bar, who threatened to rob it and then shot up the place. Phoebe certainly didn't think he was in the right. She went as far to threaten to vanquish Cole over that - — which makes this ''later'' event more suspicious.

** In "Soul Survivor", Paige decides that individuals who have decided to sell their souls for wealth and power, will full knowledge that this will come at the expense of causing misery and suffering to others, are ''still'' considered Innocent. This is despite this making the "victims", actually very little from the ''villain'' of the episode, who trades these ill-gotten souls to increase his own wealth and power!* HypocriticalHumour: In "Trial By Magic" Piper gets squeamish when she and Leo see a rat. Later on Piper mocks Paige for being scared of a group of rats - and then immediately screams as well when she sees them devouring another rat.

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** In "Soul Survivor", Paige decides that individuals who have decided to sell their souls for wealth and power, will full knowledge that this will come at the expense of causing misery and suffering to others, are ''still'' considered Innocent.innocent. This is despite this making the "victims", actually very little from the ''villain'' of the episode, who trades these ill-gotten souls to increase his own wealth and power!* HypocriticalHumour: In "Trial By by Magic" Piper gets squeamish when she and Leo see a rat. Later on Piper mocks Paige for being scared of a group of rats - — and then immediately screams as well when she sees them devouring another rat.

* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: The name of almost every episode worked on more than one level -- each often included a {{pun}} which was at least peripherally relevant to the plot point/MonsterOfTheWeek, unless the name of one of the sisters was somehow worked into the title. At the same time, most names were ''also'' puns which played off of a ShoutOut to another famous title or work. While just about anything was fair game, the most common contenders were works of literature, rival TV shows, classic films, and well-known songs, often oldies.

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* IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming: The name of almost every episode was a {{pun}} that worked on more than one level -- each often included a {{pun}} which was at least level; both peripherally relevant to the plot point/MonsterOfTheWeek, unless the name of one of the sisters was somehow worked into the title. At the same time, point, MonsterOfTheWeek, or most names were ''also'' puns which played important sister in the episode, as well as playing off of a ShoutOut to another famous title or work. While just about anything was fair game, the most common contenders were works of work, usually literature, rival TV shows, TV, classic films, and film, or well-known songs, often oldies.

** In season four, everyone seems to be holding to their personalised idiot ball. Paige jumps between using her powers very smartly, and very stupidly. The Source makes a big show of not trusting the Seer, tells her "the next time she betrays him will be her last" and then does nothing when she tells him to his face she will do the exact thing he forbade. Leo made a big show of "watching over" Paige when she lived away, but does no such thing for Phoebe in the penthouse. Piper [[ForgotAboutHisPowers repeatedly doesn't use her freezing power]] when it would be extremely tactically advantageous, even though she still uses the power for very trivial things, with the crowning example being "Off to See the Wizard" where she does ''not'' freeze the wizard, allowing him to steal the book, even though she froze him just a while ago simply because he got on her nerves. ** The Vampire Queen in "Bite Me" deserves a special mention. Paige was bitten by a vampire. It was established that in order to be fully converted to a vampire a person must get their first taste of blood. Before that point, if the Vampire Queen is killed the person will be turned back to normal. After that point, if the Vampire Queen is killed the person will be killed along with her. In other words, before Paige had tasted blood the other Charmed Ones had every reason to kill the Vampire Queen. Once she'd tasted blood, it would be virtually guaranteed they wouldn't kill her so they could save their sister. So instead of simply giving Paige a little taste of blood as soon as she's bitten, the Vampire Queen decides that her sisters should be her first taste of blood (thereby giving the sisters a reason to kill the queen and allowing them a window to rescue Paige).

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** In season four, everyone seems to be holding to their personalised personalized idiot ball. Paige jumps between using her powers very smartly, and very stupidly. The Source makes a big show of not trusting the Seer, tells her "the next time she betrays him will be her last" and then does nothing when she tells him to his face she will do the exact thing he forbade. Leo made a big show of "watching over" Paige when she lived away, but does no such thing for Phoebe in the penthouse. penthouse even before Cole starts shuttering everything, and the possibility isn't even mentioned. Piper [[ForgotAboutHisPowers repeatedly doesn't use her freezing power]] when it would be extremely tactically advantageous, even though she still uses the power for very trivial things, with the crowning example being "Off "We're Off to See the Wizard" where she does ''not'' freeze the wizard, allowing him to steal the book, even though she froze him just a while ago simply because he got on her nerves. ** The Vampire Queen in "Bite Me" deserves a special mention. Paige was bitten by a vampire. It was established that in order to be fully converted to a vampire a person must get their first taste of blood. Before that point, if the Vampire Queen is killed the person will be turned back to normal. After that point, if the Vampire Queen is killed the person will be killed along with her. In other words, before Paige had tasted blood the other Charmed Ones had every reason to kill the Vampire Queen. Once she'd tasted blood, it would be virtually guaranteed they wouldn't kill her so they could save their sister. So instead of simply giving Paige a little taste of blood as soon as she's bitten, bitten and ''then'' sending her after her sisters with a huge mental advantage, the Vampire Queen decides that her sisters should be her first taste of blood (thereby blood, thereby giving the sisters a reason to kill the queen and allowing them a window to rescue Paige).Paige.

* ConflictBall: In Season 5, the sisters (especially Phoebe) were distrustful of Cole and constantly expressed as much. It didn't matter that Cole was constantly trying to do good, either. The stated reason was because of Cole's turn as the Source of All Evil, but these episodes overlooked that Cole didn't choose to be the Source at all. (Instead, he had been possessed by the old Source and overtaken.) The sisters themselves were even told as much by the wizard ("He didn't die. He was reborn into a new sorry ass.") and Cole's new personal assistant/failed seductress ("You've ruined him. Made him pathetic, weak, good.") near the end of Season 4. Their distrust was rooted in a severe case of NegativeContinuity.

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* ConflictBall: In Season 5, the sisters (especially Phoebe) were distrustful of Cole and constantly expressed as much. It didn't matter that Cole was constantly trying to do good, either. The stated reason was because of Cole's turn as the Source of All Evil, but these episodes overlooked that Cole didn't choose to be the Source at all. (Instead, he had been possessed driven mad by the old power of the Source and overtaken.overtaken with it.) The sisters themselves were even told as much by the wizard ("He didn't die. He was reborn into a new sorry ass.") and Cole's new personal assistant/failed seductress ("You've ruined him. Made him pathetic, weak, good.") near the end of Season 4. Their distrust was rooted in a severe case of NegativeContinuity.

%%* DemonicPossession* DemonicPossession: With demons becoming the main enemies on this show, there were bound to be plenty of examples. Isis, Frankie and Lulu, Imara, Zile and Dantalian, and of course The Source itself has gotten in on the action. Heck, the Source alone has pulled off this trope on Paige's boyfriend Shane, engaged in TheCorruption after its power got into Cole, and another demon used possession to obtain a guise to lure Wyatt into a plot to revive him.

* TrackingSpell: Scrying, a magical tracking technique that all witches are capable off. A witch has to hold a crystal pendant over a map of the area in which the person or object she hopes to find is presumably located, and move it around untill the pendant eventually pinpoints the exact location of the object or person by pulling down on to a spot on the map.

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